Dig up Dinosaurs From Paleontological Sites Suitable for the Whole Family
Looking for a fun, educational summer activity for the whole family? How about digging for real dinosaur bones and other fossils! Here are some of the best excavations around the country to welcome newcomers to paleontology.
You don’t have to go to official excavations with real dinosaur professionals to find fossils in the world, but it’s better if you do. You can learn more about what you unearth and do it ethically so that researchers can actually use what you find. Best of all, these types of expeditions are often quite affordable and suitable for both children and adults.
Tara Lepore , a field paleontologist and science teacher, offers several tips on vertebrate paleontology at Outbound Adventurer :
- Western Colorado Museum : Grand Junction, Colorado. Children aged 5 and over (must be accompanied by an adult aged 16 and under) – $ 55 to $ 175 per person.
- Wyoming Dinosaur Center : Thermopolis, Wyoming. Designed for children ages 8-12 with parental supervision (interested adults can join too), $ 20 or less per person.
- Judith River Dinosaur Institute : Billings, Montana. Children 12 and older – $ 1,695 per week.
- Tate Geological Museum at Casper College : Casper, Wyoming. Children 16 and older (16-17 must be accompanied by an adult) $ 800 for five days of field work and accommodation.
- Mammoth Zone : Hot Springs, South Dakota. Children 4 years and older (must be accompanied by an adult) – $ 40 per person. Programs for adults are available through the Institute Earthwatch .
- Fossil Butte National Monument : Kemmerer, Wyoming. Admission is free for all ages.
- Dinosaur State Park : Rocky Hill, Connecticut. For all ages $ 6 per person.
But that’s not all there is in the world – even close! If you have the money, time and a decent body, you can volunteer to take part in almost any paleontological excavation. Explore their local colleges with paleontology programs, or check with your local natural history museum to see what they have planned. You can find out more about the excavations listed above at the link below.
Paleontological Excavation Site in the United States | Outgoing Adventurer